What Chemicals to Use to Maintain a Swimming Pool

Maintaining a swimming pool is not quite as hard as one would think. As long as the right swimming pool chemicals are used, anyone with the proper knowledge of balancing these chemicals should do fine. What are the chemicals used to properly maintain a swimming pool?

Pool Sanitizers

There is a range of pool sanitizers available in the market today, but the most sought after are chlorine tablets. This chemical comes in tablet, granules, stick and liquid form, and is considered one of the cheapest and most effective pool sanitizer. For those who do not agree with the strong smell of chlorine alternative chemicals are Bromine, TriChlor, DiChlor, and Cyanuric acid.

Bromine works best in hot water that is why this is the preferred sanitizer of the spas. It is thrifty to use as it can regenerate by shocking.

TriChlor is available in sticks or in packages of 1 and 3 tablets. It contains cyanuric acid and may be added to a chlorine floater or installed in a chlorinator.

DiChlor is available as granules. It also contains cyanuric acid and quickly acts to chlorinate not only pools, but spas and water fountains as well.

Cyanuric acid is available in dry or liquid form. This acid actually protects chlorine from the harmful effects of UV rays. To maintain 30-50 ppm on a newly filled pool, it is recommended to an extra dose of cyanuric acid. If the level is over 50 ppm, pool water must be drained and refilled.

Pool Shocks or Oxidizers

Oxidizers or pool shocks are considered as secondary sanitizers. They are used after every few weeks to kill bacteria and algae. These chemicals are quite strong and are recommended for extra contaminant killing power. They come in two types: powdered chlorine and non-chlorine shocks.

Chlorine Free Shock is a non-chlorinated powdered potassium monopersulfate. This is an oxygen-based sanitizer that is a fast-acting. It is safe to swim right after treatment as it does not leave any residue.

Calcium Hypochlorite or Cal Hypo is another type of pool shock that can quickly sanitize pool water by boosting the chlorine level of pool water thereby killing algae. This oxidizer works best at a pH level of 7.2.

Lithium Hypochlorite is best used for pools with liners as it does not only bleach the liner itself, but also quickly dissolves thereby making it quite safe to swim right after treatment.

Water Balancers

It is recommended to test pool water, its pH and chlorine level a number of times weekly for balanced water. Balancing pool water is done by simply adjusting the chemicals. Alkalinity level should be tested weekly whereas cyanuric levels and calcium hardness should be tested monthly.

Granular soda ash is a pH increaser. This is best used when the water pH level is less than 7.2 ppm. A pound of this chemical in a 10,000-gallon pool water will raise the pH level by 0.1.

Granular sodium bisulfate is a pH reducer. It is a form of dry acid that reduces pH level when it is over 7.6 ppm. A pound of this chemical is enough to lower pH level of 10,000 gallons of water by 0.3

Granular sodium bicarbonate increases the water’s alkalinity. When the alkalinity level falls below 80 ppm, this chemical should be added. A pound of alkalinity increaser will increase the total alkalinity level of a 10,000-gallon pool water of by about 10 ppm.

Powdered calcium chloride is a calcium hardness increaser. If the calcium hardness level falls below 150 ppm, adding a pound of calcium chloride in 10,000 gallons of water will increase the CH level by about 10 ppm.

Granular sodium thiosulfate is a chlorine neutralizer that will adjust the chlorine concentration of a pool. A pound of this chemical is enough to quickly lower free chlorine level in a 10,000-gallon pool.

Other Pool Chemicals

There are other chemicals used in keeping swimming pool water clean and sparkling.

Algaecides are mostly non-metallic, but there are copped-based ones too. This chemical helps in preventing the development of algae. Often times, pool shocks or oxidizers, and algaecides are used together to maintain pool water.

Clarifiers help coagulate small particles into bigger ones so that they can be easily trapped in the pool filter. On the other hand, flocculants set particles into clumps that sink to the pool floor for easy vacuuming.

Filter cleaners are needed to clean and maintain all types of filters to keep them working well. These filter cleaners remove metals, minerals, oil and other gunk that may clog filters.

Stain removers both prevent and remove scaling, surface stains and colored water due to metals and minerals in the water.

Enzymes are chemicals that break down non-living organic contaminants in the water. They remove odors, oils and scum from the pool water.

Phosphate removers effectively break down phosphate in the water. This is necessary because phosphates are the food source of algae. Without it, algae can’t thrive.

Metal magnets are used to eliminate trace metals from the pool water to prevent them from staining the pool surface.

Vinyl and tile cleaners are necessary to remove grease and oil buildup around the pool’s water line, skimmers, slides, diving board and other pool accessories. They are safe enough to use and won’t affect other chemicals in the pool.

Chemical kits for opening and closing pools are also available. These kits contain every chemical needed to open and winterize a pool. This is mostly needed in temperate zone countries where it is necessary to close swimming pools for the winter.

In a nutshell, chemicals that kill contaminants prevent stains, and stabilizers and balancers are vital in maintaining clear and clean pool water.

Pool Master is a leading swimming pool contractor in Thailand. The company has been providing excellent products and services to a wide range of clients for over two decades now. The company motto “Clean water and great pool parties make people smile!” is a testimony to its thrust. And that is to have happy, contented clients.